MIT researchers demonstrate more efficient wireless power

MIT researchers have been working on wireless power longer than most (Nikola Tesla aside), and it looks like they've now made a somewhat surprising discovery that could lead to more efficient wireless power. In addition to reducing the size of the transmitters and receives used in their system to something approaching practical, the researchers found that the system's efficiency at transmitting energy increased "significantly" if multiple devices are charged at the same time. What's more, while the amount of power transmitted in the latest experiment only amounted to 100 watts, MIT's André Kurs says that is only limited by the amplifier used for the transmitting coil, adding that the system could easily "feed power to a medium-sized room and power a dozen devices."

[techlord Posted Apr 14th 2010 3:55PM]

Probably gave us new type of disease in return.

[Xcelerate Posted Apr 14th 2010 4:17PM]

@ssgadget

Long term effects could include gene mutations, which wouldn't be noticed for possibly hundreds of years (or maybe sooner if you compared two genomes). It is risky to say that a new technology does "nothing", as this is only a theory, and theories are constantly disproven. It would be better to say there is a high probability of no ill effects.

[Yeria Posted Apr 14th 2010 4:22PM]

If this ever becomes practical, how are we going to stop people from stealing your electricity, whether intentionally or not? Imagine having to use WAP2 Personal encryption to charge your phone....I would rather just plug my phone into a wall socket....=/

[Yeria Posted Apr 14th 2010 4:24PM]

@Yeria Blah...I meant to say WPA2...lol WAP2...that would be the 2nd generation wireless application protocol...

[Mopo Posted Apr 14th 2010 4:43PM]

@Xcelerate Although, the technology is fairly new, magnetic fields and RF have been around for a long time.

[washingtonegasgmailcom Posted Apr 14th 2010 4:56PM]

@ssgadget You get more deadly radiation from standing in the sun that from what ever gadget your carrying....even me is not that paranoid and believe me, coming from me it means a lot...

[epompeii Posted Apr 14th 2010 4:56PM]

go tesla!

[NeatOman Posted Apr 14th 2010 5:30PM]

@Showbiz There is a world of difference in magnetic waves and ionic waves.

[JS Posted Apr 14th 2010 10:56PM]

@ssgadget

In a hundred years we will be able to fix genetic mutations, considering we already sorta know how to do it .. albeit inefficiently. And we have enough genomes from today to compare and see what's changed.

[leemahi Posted Apr 15th 2010 2:02AM]

@JS i just finished writing an 8 page paper on that very topic today. my verdict? it does some things like reduces sperm mobility. but this is high power waves.i say no, even though i say yes to cellphones

[Cru Posted Apr 15th 2010 1:00PM]

@Xcelerate
This is assuming we don't start monkeying around with our DNA in the first place over the next two decades.

[Dan Fruzzetti Posted Apr 15th 2010 2:49PM]

We miss you, tesla.

MIT: a dozen of WHAT devices? vacuum cleaners? refrigerators? laptops? televisions? one hundred watts doesn't sound like enough for a dozen of anything but cell phones.